A beekeeper's blog from the Isle of Newfoundland that's currently being tweaked and rewritten and all the photos and videos that don't display properly are being fixed up and it'll be great and you'll love when it's done.

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Winter Preparations – Part 2: Hive Wrap

I finally got around to wrapping my hives for the winter. Here’s another how-to video narrated by me with a sore throat.

November 2018 Comment: That’s not a wax moth in the video. I don’t know what it is, but it’s not a wax moth. We don’t have those in Newfoundland (yet). I use 6mm (quarter-inch) mesh on the bottom entrances now to keep shrews out, and I don’t fold the wrap underneath the top cover because it holds moisture inside the hive.

I thought about using corrugated plastic as a type of winter wrap, but I didn’t have time to mess with that, so I stuck with following the traditional roofing felt wrap method. I don’t plan to touch the hives again until late January or early February when I might have to feed them candy cakes and pollen patties. See Wrapping Hives for Winter and Winter Preparations – Part 1 for more info.November 14th, 2011: I just took this photo of frost on top of the hives — proof that the insulation installed over the inner covers is working.

Frost on hive. (Nov. 4, 2011.)

If the insulation wasn’t working, the frost would melt away from the heating escaping from the hives. Right?

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4 thoughts on “Winter Preparations – Part 2: Hive Wrap”

I have some questions on how the winter.
1. What is the minimum temperature during winter in the area
2. The bottom of the hive is compact and comes with mesh for ventilation
3. If the bottom is compact not have problems with condensation in winter

I am in a area where you 5-6 months in winter. Bees have a three flight four months and if you isolate so much condensation occurs and disease occur.

Between October and May, the average low temperature in St. John’s, Newfoundland, is approximately -5°C, but we have plenty of days when it’s much colder. The average wind chill factor is well under -20°C. A -40°C wind chill in not uncommon between December and March. Our winters are generally wet and mild. Whenever we get snow, it’s usually followed by rain.

“2. The bottom of the hive is compact and comes with mesh for ventilation.”

Our hives have solid bottom boards. The half-inch mesh keeps mice out of the hives during the winter and allows for better ventilation.

“3. If the bottom is compact not have problems with condensation in winter.”

The bottom board is solid. We don’t have problems with condensation because the hives have a top entrance that allows the condensation to escape. We also have insulation over the inner covers that helps reduce condensation.

“I am in a area where you 5-6 months in winter. Bees have a three flight four months…”

It’s similar here. Our bees are stuck in their hives for about 8 months of the year.

“…and if you isolate so much condensation occurs and disease occur.”

Ventilation seems to be the key to healthy hives, during the winter or summer. I still have much to learn.